September 04, 2010

Investigations in D.C. Find Taxicabs Discriminating Against 60% of Individuals with Service Dogs

A recent report, "No Dogs Allowed; Discrimination by D.C. Taxicabs against People Who Use Service Dogs,” uncovered a 60% rate of discrimination against individuals who use service animals when attempting to hail a cab.

Released by Equal Rights Center (ERC), the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and Hogan Lovells US LLP, the report investigations were spurred after the ERC received numerous complaints from ERC members and collaborative partners who use service dogs and had experienced refusals of service by D.C. taxi cabs.

When discussing the discrimination, Charles Crawford, an ERC member who is blind stated, “While being denied cab service is sufficiently annoying in itself; these instances further demean the guide dog user; they are both hurtful and an insult to those of us who must rely upon the loving assistance of our dogs to travel independently.”

The ERC conducted 30 tests in D.C. encompassing 15 zip codes and 3 of the District’s quadrants. Each test included two individuals—one with a service dog and one without—standing on the same side of a block attempting to hail a cab. In 60% of these tests, the blind tester with a service dog was subjected to at least one form of discriminatory treatment.

“With tens of thousands of individuals with visual disabilities either living in or visiting the District, the continued widespread discrimination against people using service dogs by taxicab drivers in the District is unacceptable,” said Don Kahl, Equal Rights Center Executive Director. “We hope this report will move the District government, political candidates, and our community leaders to focus on and rectify the stain of discrimination against people with disabilities on the reputation of the nation’s capital.”

Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and D.C. Human Rights Act (DCHRA) are applicable to all private taxi companies in the District, and require taxicab drivers to allow service dogs in their vehicles and prohibit them from charging a surcharge, higher fare, or extra fee for transporting a service dog.

“The ADA was enacted to help break down barriers those with disabilities face everyday; and access to public services, like taxicabs, is an integral form of transportation for thousands in the District,” said Elaine Gardner, Disability Rights Project Director at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

“As the capital of a nation that united in our celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ADA this year, we hope the District government and leaders take necessary steps to become a leader in protecting civil rights of all individuals,” said Dana Boehm, of Hogan Lovells

In order to address and end the discrimination, the report suggests increasing enforcement efforts and penalties for discrimination; requiring additional training for taxicab company owners, taxi drivers, and taxi company employees who deal with the public; and stepped up and regular compliance monitoring.

2 Comments

I have even worse problems with the Medicaid funded transportation access taxicabs. They have threatened to throw me out of the cabs (which are often also their personal cars) or not give me a ride at all.
Once, I was stranded on a rainy November day on a street-corner in a wheelchair until I gave up on them ever coming back. I had to pay for another cab, which I was lucky would accept me, my service dog Zoe, and my folding wheelchair.
Another time, they failed to pick me up for 3 hours after chemotherapy.
This is a transportation service only to and from medical appointments for disabled folks, like myself.
I am terrified every time I have to use this service that I either won't make it to my critical appointments/respiratory therapy or will not be able to get home.
It was good to see you highlighting another aspect of this issue of cabs and discrimination.

I remember when I lived in Washington, DC, and would try to hail a cab. Sometimes, it would take as long as 45 minutes to get a cab because the drivers did not want me and my wheelchair in their cab.

I tried callin for cabs, which costs more than hailing, and often, when the driver would get to my house, there would be a scene because he would refuse to take me.

It got to the point where I would ask complete strangers to hail a cab for me. Every time, the driver would end up taking me because he didn't want to embarass himself.

I did have a cab driver ask me if my disability was contagious. Wow!

Of course, I have to say that I suspect that part of the reason for the discrimination had to do with my race. I can't count how many cab drivers who did finally stop for me would tell me that they don't go into Anacostia. They assumed that because I am Black that I was going into that neighborhood. When I would tell them that I was going home, and give my address, they were happy because I lived in a nice neighborhood.

Frankie Mastrangelo is the moderator for both the Justice For All (JFA) national email listerv as well as for the JFActivist blog. She is also an organizer for the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.